![Keir Starmer](https://www.politico.eu/cdn-cgi/image/width=714,height=714,quality=80,onerror=redirect,format=auto/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/28/Jonny-Ruzzo-10-Keir-Starmer-Illustration-1.jpg)
Keir Starmer
The other guy
Since becoming U.K. Labour leader in 2020, Keir Starmer has transformed his party. He has carefully hauled Labour back to the center ground after Jeremy Corbyn’s left-wing lurch, rooted out antisemitism and brought party moderates back into the fold — all while leading the opposition through political chaos and three Conservative prime ministers.
The discipline Starmer instilled in his party was on show at Labour’s conference in October, which coincided with Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack on Israel and the bombardment of the Gaza Strip in response. At conferences past, such events would have ripped the party apart publicly and bitterly — Labour’s hard left has a long history of supporting Palestinians. Under Starmer, the center held, and Labour MPs stayed strictly on-message.
But as the intensity of Israel’s retaliation strikes in Gaza increased, the strict discipline wavered, with several Labour MPs breaking ranks with their leader and resigning from the front bench in protest at Starmer’s stance on the conflict. Whether more follow remains to be seen.
Starmer faces other challenges, too. He has had to dampen spending expectations under a Labour government, as the country’s finances cut off the party’s ambitions. He has also struggled to convince voters he has what it takes to be prime minister and isn’t just “the other guy.” Despite that, Labour is ahead consistently in the polls. Starmer’s carefully plotted, middle-of-the road approach seeks to woo centrist Tory voters disillusioned with the chaos of the past few years in British politics. His opponent, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has attempted to drag the political debate into culture war issues, such as trans rights and net zero policies. Starmer, so far, has resisted the bait.
The man who wants to be prime minister is now preparing for government. With an election likely next year, he will seek to stay plodding his careful course, hoping that will convince voters he is up to the job.
Check out the full POLITICO 28: Class of 2024, and read the Letter from the Editors for an explanation of the thinking behind the ranking.